A wealth of resources await today's holiday cook to meet the needs of every family member and guest at this special dinner. Make a traditional but gluten-free Thanksgiving dinner with the help of gluten-free cookbooks, online recipes and foods and mixes from most major supermarkets and health food stores. A gluten-free diet lacks ingredients derived from wheat, kamut, spelt, barley, rye and triticale, a hybrid of wheat and rye. This diet also avoids hidden gluten used as a flavoring, stabilizer or thickening agent.
Turkey With Pecan-Cherry Stuffing
The name of this recipe says it all. This is a gluten-free main course to grace any Thanksgiving table, according to the cookbook "Incredibly Easy Gluten-Free Recipes," by Favorite Brand Name. This recipe makes a lovely, festive centerpiece for a traditional holiday meal that is gluten-free and appeals to everyone at the table.
Cranberry Sauce
Ready-to-eat cranberry sauce that is labeled gluten-free is readily available in stores. Enjoy the ready-to-eat cranberry sauce or make your own, following package directions. You can serve it hot or cold.
Vegetables
Choose roasted or mashed potatoes and a variety of vegetables to complement your meal. Prepare your selection of vegetables in your usual manner, according to the website Wheat-Free. You can do this ahead of time and reheat if you find preparing and cooking a variety of dishes all at once a bit daunting, especially if you are trying to visit with guests at the same time.
Gravy
Several good gluten-free gravy powders are available at most supermarkets. Simply mix with cold water according to package directions, heat for about five minutes and stir occasionally to prevent it from becoming too thick. Add boiling water if it gets too thick. For a lovely addition to the flavor, according to Wheat-Free, saute a medium diced onion in 1 tbsp. of oil until lightly browned but not caramelized. Add the onion to the gravy powder and water, then gently simmer to allow the flavor to reach fullness. Requests for seconds are a sure thing so make plenty of this gravy.
Gluten-Free Butternut Squash Pie
Of course, there's pie. In fact, it's a delectable gluten-free pie with a flaky crust and spicy, creamy filling, according to food writer Stephanie Stiavetti in "A Gluten-Free Thanksgiving" on National Public Radio. It can also be made as the more traditional pumpkin pie, according to NPR.
Considerations
Check food labels for hidden sources of gluten from wheat. The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act that went into effect January 2006 makes this much easier now, according to the Children's Hospital Boston. This act requires the top eight allergens, including wheat, to be declared on all product labels. The law also applies to any foods imported into the United States.
References
- "Incredibly Easy Gluten-Free Recipes"; Favorite Brand Name™; 2009
- WheatFree.org: Christmas/Thanksgiving Lunch or Dinner - Wheat Free Recipe
- National Public Radio: A Gluten-Free Thanksgiving
- Children's Hospital Boston: Reading Labels for Hidden Wheat Sources
